Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern insists the national trends are being misread in their state.

“The air is fresher in the Midwest,” Redfern told POLITICO. “I understand it’s the first term midterm, blah blah blah. I’m bullish on Ohio. God bless everybody who disagrees, but most of those people who disagree don’t live in Ohio.”

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He said that looking at critical Hamilton County (Cincinnati), Democrats were seeing requests for absentee ballots that rivaled the number sought there in 2008, and that internal polls for both Republicans and Democrats show the race much closer.

Democratic Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero has failed, except on a few occasions, to get past 30 percent in the polls against Rick Snyder, the wealthy businessman who is the GOP nominee.

Democrats are still hoping they can portray Snyder, who has spent big on well-known Washington consultants, as similar to Dick DeVos, the unsuccessful GOP hopeful four years ago, and distance Bernero from the anti-establishment anger.

But Ballenger said it’s unlikely given Michigan’s budget problems, which he said are so bad that a new batch of well-received state-sponsored tourism ads had to be yanked because the government ran out of funds to pay for them. He noted that voters have some appreciation for the auto industry bailout, but would like carmakers in Michigan—now dubbed ‘Government Motors’ by some residents—to start standing on their own.

Indiana is yet another state where hits to the manufacturing base and concern about debt have reverberated. Rep. Brad Ellsworth, the Democratic nominee for retiring Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh’s seat, is way back in the polls and extremely low on campaign funds, leaving him unable to fight back against GOP rival Dan Coats’s attacks.

In Wisconsin, where both Sen. Russ Feingold and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett are trailing their Republican competitors in the Senate and gubernatorial races, the landscape is only slightly more promising.

Feingold, a liberal icon, took two politically wise votes against TARP and the financial regulation package. But he backed the stimulus bill, and Johnson’s personal and anti-government narrative also dovetails neatly with the tea party movement.

Bolger said that Democrat talk of stopping the wave is happy talk.

“It’s a lot better than starting drinking at 9 am,” he said. “In 2006 and 2008, that's what a lot of Republicans did - happy talk. It is healthier for you [but it] doesn’t make it true.”

Readers' Comments (704)

Not much of a surprise here. Born here, live here, work here, am conservative in my views and am of the older generation. You can recognize us by the way we can read, and write, and add an subtract. Mostly we are of the generation who remember the DEPRESSION and look as this RECESSION as another blip on the horizon. We are those who listened to the slick snake oil salesman once and never again. We learned that talk from politicians are just that, talk and take and spend other peoples money mostly with little regard for who they represent. When that happens they are voted out, period. My take is that this latest fad of tax and spend is the result of dissatisfaction with the manipulations of the rules of Washington who coincidentally were written by the lobbyists bought and paid for by who want control of the money. It has always come down to money and control. We in the Midwest have seen that smoke and mirrors and see that we have been snookered in favor of the east and west coast liberal adjendas that throws out the values of save and work ethic. Also look at the demographics, we are middle age or older and probably have saved most of our lives for retirement, have a house to live in not to make money on and pretty much stay put. We are disgusted in that when the RUST BELT was left behind that most of the money went to fast high flying companies instead of rebuilding the manufacturing base which is the heart of any economy. Money changers are just that, do not build a thing, just manipulate investments no matter where they may be. When the companies leave they do too. It seem ironic to see that forgetting the BASH BUSH CRY that we have seen this happen over and over again. The reason we are upset in the Midwest is that we are just a huge money pit waiting to be sacked and we know it. Washington knew where the money was, in the bank savings, 401K's, houses, etc. Mostly moderate living on Retirement, SS, and Medicare. They have raided SS and made a mess of Medicare and now the HC will just add to the mismanagement of Washington. Is there any wonder there is an upheaval in the Midwest? It is ironic in my lifetime we usually associated the Republicans with spend and the rich, now I see just the opposite, the Democrats are the party of spend and tax, just a reversal. Problem is that when you say rich you include those who work (remember the $255000 level) who pay most of the taxes. But now most see that the ones that do not work get benefits never worked for and see the terrible abuses of the welfare state. Regulations are flaunted, and Washington is the hub of it all. Time for a change. Thank you for letting me vent.

People in the Mid West are sick and tiered of being flown over to get to the coast states where the bigger populations equal big PAC dinners. They also realize the coast states usually lean democratic and are among the countries worst financial standings.

Liberal/Dems cant escape their records this year, these people have access to the internet too.

The Mid West knows everything about them has that distinct smell of a barn yard.

I live in Wisconsin and there's no way that the Democrats will win here in November. Wisconsin is central to Obama's re-election plans which is why he has visited here six times this year but none of that will help; it will be a clean sweep for Republicans.

The biggest reason is that Scott Walker, the Republican candidate, will be elected governor. No candidate in WIsconsin can win a state-wide election without winning at least 60 percent of the votes in Milwaukee County. Walker is the current County Executive of Milwaukee County and has won three elections in that democratic-controlled county. There's no way he will lose Milwaukee County, which means that the governor's race is a foregone conclusion.

Walker's coattails will also enable all the other Republicans to win; especially if people vote a straight ticket. The current Democrat governor and legislature are hated and voters can't wait to turn them all out in November. Plus Russ Fiengold will reap the results of pushing the health care law down our throats when we loudly and clearly told him several times that we didn't want it. But in his arrogance he thought he knew better than us.

Liberal/Dems cant escape their records this year, these people have access to the internet too.

You are right wbout this. I would add one correction, however. The Liberals/Dems can't escape their record since 2007. It is no coincidence that the economy starting tanking after Harry and Nancy led their minions to control of Congress. There is where the heart of our current predicament lies.

Bill Foster in ILlinois will pay for his pro health care vote and his refusal to hold open forums. He's at least paying with one vote: mine. And I voted for him in the special election that put him in the seat and again in the election that gave him this term. No more. He votes lockstep with Obama and refuses to listen to constituents. And Politico -- you're an embarrassment! You mention Mark Kirk's embroidery of his military record but neglect to mention that Alexi Giannoulius (Dem opponent) was in charge of a mob-connected (family) bank that failed! That's kind of important.

obamma knows the public is on to his failing socialist policies. He is a cornered rat his failing administration collapses around him and the people despise him for his ineptitude and lies.

More importantly, obamma and his Piglosi SPENDOCRATS are planning a post election SPENDING TSUNAMI. The democrat progressives say "The country be DAMMED! We will spend it to HELL!!! . Forget about jobs people! The democrats are all about spending on themselves and forget you! PIGlosi has botox poisoning. All she knows is SPEND, SPEND, SPEND!!!! The Spendocrats are working feverishly to break our financial system and send us and our children straight into banruptcy . They care NOTHING for the well being of the people. This fact is indisputable. . Remember in November to VOTE the deadly democrats OUT OF OFFICE!!!!!

obamma knows the public is on to his failing socialist policies. He is a cornered rat his failing administration collapses around him and the people despise him for his ineptitude and lies.

More importantly, obamma and his Piglosi SPENDOCRATS are planning a post election SPENDING TSUNAMI. The democrat progressives say "The country be DAMMED! We will spend it to HELL!!! . Forget about jobs people! The democrats are all about spending on themselves and forget you! PIGlosi has botox poisoning. All she knows is SPEND, SPEND, SPEND!!!! The Spendocrats are working feverishly to break our financial system and send us and our children straight into banruptcy . They care NOTHING for the well being of the people. This fact is indisputable. . Remember in November to VOTE the deadly democrats OUT OF OFFICE!!!!!

You are right wbout this. I would add one correction, however. The Liberals/Dems can't escape their record since 2007. It is no coincidence that the economy starting tanking after Harry and Nancy led their minions to control of Congress. There is where the heart of our current predicament lies.

Right, this is also about the time they started writing the Stimulus Package.

obamma and his Piglosi SPENDOCRATS are planning a post election SPENDING TSUNAMI. The democrat progressives say "The country be DAMMED! We will spend it to HELL!!! . PIGlosi has botox poisoning. All she adn the democrats knows is SPEND, SPEND, SPEND!!!! . VOTE the SPENDOCRATS OUT OF OFFICE!!!!!

I really hate to break it to you folks, but the breakdown is going to be a lot wider than just the Midwest.

Let's face the facts. In 2006 the Republicans owned the House of Representatives. The Dow Jones was over 12,600, the GDP for the previous quarter was 2.5%, the unemployment rate was 4.6% and the Republican policies had set a record for 52 straight months of job creation. Deficits averaged 104 billion per year.

Then the Democrats took over. Barney Frank took over the House Financial Services Committee and Chris Dodd took over the Senate Banking Committee. They started strong-arming the banks into making loans that the banks knew the borrowers would never be able to pay back. Despite George Bush asking 17 TIMES for Congress to rein in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, they continued their socialist experiments. Two years later, it all crashed.

In 2008 the Democrats took over the Senate, the House AND the Presidency, putting the Republican Party completely out of power. They had all the levers of government, and look what they've done to it. 10% unemployment with no end in sight. Deficits over the last four years of Democrat control have averaged 1.1 TRILLION per year, MORE THAN TEN TIMES HIGHER THAN WHEN REPUBLICANS RAN THE HOUSE. And they say the recession is over - this is now what is going to pass for normal economic activity.

The socialist experiment is over. We can now see what the Democratic party is all about with all the controls removed. They are about continual job losses. They are about economic failure. They are about open borders with taxpayers picking up the tab for the illegal immigrants. They are about weak defense, no pride in America, higher taxes, war on business, war on job creation, the list goes on and on.

Slinging mud at Republican candidates to distract from what they have done to his country will not be enough. Lying will not be enough. Rigging the numbers will not be enough. The leftist propagandists in the media manipulating the news will not be enough. The usual Democratic party voter fraud will not be enough. Bussing in the homeless and giving them cigarettes in exchange for voters will not be enough. Black Panthers with baseball bats at the polls to drive away white voters will not be enough.

We've had it. Pro-American voters are inspired by the tea parties and will crawl for miles over broken glass, if we have to, in order to get to the polls and vote these people out. Your worst nightmares pale in comparison to what is going to happen on November 2nd.

I live in Wisconsin and there's no way that the Democrats will win here in November. Wisconsin is central to Obama's re-election plans which is why he has visited here six times this year but none of that will help; it will be a clean sweep for Republicans.

The Republicans have come close in a lot of blue states in presdiential elections as well. They've come within striking distance in your state several times. Which is why I still maintain it's the Rockefeller, Wall Street Republicans and not the crazy Christians who are the problem with the party. A lot of people in rural areas go to church on Sunday. Many of them are farmers. If the midwest factory worker and farmer felt they could get a better deal, economically from the Pubs they vote for them and they could run the electoral table on the the Dems. But Republican strategists are not very effective.